Coupling or connector.



W. E. BENSON.

COUPLING 0R CONNECTOR.

APPLIOATION rum) 11:12.7. 190s.

Patented Feb. 16, 1909.

1n: NORRIS PETERS anoantoz ZWZZZZ'd/WZY amm WILLIAM E. BENSON, OFBENSON, ALABAMA.

COUPLING OR OONNECTGR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 16, 1909.

Application filed February 7, 1908. Serial No. $14,842.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, inux11 E. Bnrzson, a citizen of the United States,residing at Benson, in the State of Qrlabauia, have invented new anduseful Improvements in Couplings or Connectors, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to the construction of metallic guys or stays andanalogous devices, and particularly to couplings or connectors for theparts or sections thereof, the object of the invention being to providea novel construction of coupling or connecting means by which theproximate ends of the sections may be quickly, conveniently and securelyassembled in such a manner as to effectually withstand the strainsfalling thereon.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination andarrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is aperspective view, showing the proximate ends of the sections of a flator metallic strap guy joined by my improved coupling or connector. Fig.2 is a perspective view of the parts of the same disassembled. Fig. 3 isa cross-section through the coupling connection. Fig. =1 is a plan Viewshowing the use of a sleeve of different length. Fig. is a similar viewshowing the adaptation of the invention to a metallic guy or stay formedof rods.

Referring to the drawing. 1 and 2 designate the sections of a metallicguy or stay, the same comprising straps or strips of sheetmetal of thedesired length and width. and 3 designates asheet-metal coupling sleeveforming the major member of the connector. The said sleeve isconstructed of sheet-metal bent into form and is preferably of oblongrectangular form in cross-section. in the illustrated embodiment thesleeve comprises a body portion 4. provided with right angular end walls5, one of said walls being formed with an inturned flange 6, while theother is continued to provide a cover plate '7 adapted to fold down to aparallel position with the body 1 and to form with the flange 6 a wallcorresponding in form and dimensions with said body. Normally thefolding cover portion 7 is open or lies at an oblique angle to the bodyportion, as shown in Fig. 2, to permit of the application of the ends ofthe strap sections 1 and 2 to the sleeve.

in order to provide for an interlocking engagement between the sections1 and and the sleeve 3, the said. sections are respectively provided attheir meeting ends with locking elements 8 and 9, consisting of hooksformed by bending the ends of said. sections real.- ward ly in oppositedirections. In the opera tion of coupling the ends of the sections 1.and 2, such ends of the sections are inserted into the sleeve inoverlapping relation, so that the outwardly and rearwardly projectinghook of the section 1 will engage one of the side edges of the bottomportion 1-, after which the cover section 7 of the sleeve is folded toclosed position and the strap section 2 adjusted to bring the portion 9thereof into engagement with the side edge of the ilange 6 and cover 7at the opposite side of the sleeve from the point of engagement from thehook 8, the hook thus engaging edges of the sleeve at diagonallyopposite points. The hooks and sleeve when thus connected may beflattened out to insure firm engagement, and it will be apparent thatthe hook 9 will prevent any tendency to outward movement of the coversection 3, while said hooks will be drawn into closer engagement withthe sleeve by the pulling strain in opposite directions on the strapsections, the greater such strain the greater the firmness of thecoupling engagement. hen it is desired to disconnect the strap sections,the section 2 is forced back and the cover portion 7 then pried open,whereupon both strap sections may be disengaged from the sleeve.

In practice, it is preferred to employ a series of sleeves *arying inlength, so that the metallic guy or stay as a whole may be lenghtened orshortened, as occasion may require, and the ends of strap sectionsspaced a greater or less distance apart coupled with facility. In Fig. lI have shown the use of a coupling sleeve 3 of greater length than thesleeve 3, and it will he understood that by the substitution of suchsleeve 3 for sleeve 3 the length of the strap sections as a whole may beshortened and coupled in shortened condition. In the embodiment of theinvention disclosed in Fig. 5 I have shown the application of theinvention to a guy or stay in which the sections 1 and 2 consist of rodsor bars of metal, which rods or bars are flatened at their proximateends to fit within the sleeve and provide for the formation of thelocking hooks thereon.

From the foregoing description, the advantages of my improved couplingwill be readily understood. By its use the necessity of riveting thebands or straps together at their meeting ends will be avoided, thuspreventing weakening of the material while at the same time providingfor the detachable connection of the parts. Also, by the use of couplingsleeves of different lengths, strap sections spaced a greater or lessdistance apart at their meeting ends may be connected and the guy orstav as a whole lengthened or shortened, atwill. A continuous guy orstay may also be readily repaired when broken by simply forming hooksupon the sections at the joints and connecting the same by the improvedcoupling sleeve. The construction is further such as to secure theadvangtages set forth at a comparatively low cost.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new is Ina coupling or connector, the combination of an oblong rectangularsleeve, having substantially parallel flat sides, one of said sidesbeing transversely divided adjacent one end to provide a short flangeand a cover portion, the latter being bent to a closed position inalineinent with said flange, whereby the meeting edges of the said coverportion and flange lie in abutting contact and their outer surfaces lieflush with each other, and flat straps projecting in opposite directionsthrough the sleeve and having short hooks at their ends engaging thediametrically opposite side edges of the side walls of said sleeve, andoverlapping and bearing upon the outer faces of said walls, said strapsbeing substantially coextensive in width with the sleeve and the hook ofthe strap engaging the slitted side wall being arranged to bear upon theflush outer faces of the cover portion and flange and to extend over thejoint between said cover portion and flange and to retain said coverportion in closed position.

In testimony whereol I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM E. BENSON.

Witnesses GEORGE D. LELAND, BERNARD HAHN.

